Silken Laumann - Olympian, Insirational Speaker and Author
Silken is a sought-after speaker who connects with audiences on a personal level, whether giving the keynote address to a thousand executives, or chatting informally to a classroom full of elementary school students. She has spoken to hundreds of organizations in government, education, health, sales, human resources, and private business.
Silken takes her listeners on the journey of a lifetime, as she shares her courageous story, from broken bones and shredded muscles to Olympic glory. She reaches out and connects with people’s struggles, their doubt and their pain. And she provides strategies that help listeners tap into their own well of personal courage and leave with a strong feeling of empowerment and possibility.
Silken's speeches are tailored to her audiences, however her most frequently requested topics are 'The Courage to Shine: Releasing Your Inner Excellence", and the "Live Well" keynote address.
Biography
From broken bones and shredded muscle to Olympic glory… Silken's story is one of courage, perseverance and the triumph of the human spirit.
In May 1992, just 10 weeks before the Olympic Games, Silken Laumann was injured in a brutal rowing accident that left her right leg shattered and useless. Reigning world champion in Single Sculls rowing, Silken was told by doctors she might never row again.
Twenty-seven days, five operations, and countless hours of gruelling rehabilitation later, Silken was back in her shell, ready to pursue her Olympic dream. When the starter's pistol rang out on August 2, 1992, Silken made the greatest comeback in Canadian sports history, winning the bronze medal for Canada, and capturing the hearts of a nation.
Silken retired from rowing in 1999 with three Olympic medals, and since then has continued to inspire, encouraging people to dream, live in the moment and embrace failure as a stepping stone to success.
“In ten weeks she made the greatest comeback in Canadian sports history, becoming a symbol of hope to all.”
The Montreal Gazette
What people are saying...
"The Response from our participants was overwhelmingly positive. For many it was her address that helped them to articulate what they want to achieve in their development as leaders."
–The Leadership Centre, Canadian Centre for Management Development
"If you only hear one speaker, it should be Silken."
–Hamilton Health
I've seen several motivational speakers and she's by far the best."
–Selkirk Financial
"As you could tell by the group's standing ovation your speech moved us emotionally and was a highlight of our weekend."
–AMJ Campbell
"You provided our sales team with valuable new skills, applicable to both their business and personal lives."
–Microsoft
"Thank you for giving such a terrific presentation. It's obvious you care about your audience, by being so thoroughly prepared."
–Cronkhite Supply
Programs
THE COURAGE TO SHINE
Building on her own remarkable experiences and those of other champions in art, music, and business, Silken shares with her audiences key strategies that lead to great performance. What is revealed is as surprising as it is sensible. From the company executive with a jar full of pennies representing the days of his life to the Olympic athlete in tears of doubt just days before winning gold medals. Silken shows us that leaders are not fearless, nor eternally confident. Rather they have mastered the mental skills that harness and unleash human potential. Understanding the power of our thoughts and intentions, staying connected to our passions and creating the positive environment from which creativity and excellence flows are keys to releasing inner excellence. The balance between controlling our own destiny while still being receptive to the unexpected and magical are lessons shared by this very open, sharing and caring speaker.
THINK WELL, ACT WELL, BE WELL = LIVE WELL
Silken Laumann knows about living life well. The equation to living well encompasses all aspects of excellence. Excellence in mind, body and spirit. We can’t meet our full potential in our jobs, in our relationships and in our communities without a commitment to invest in all aspects of living well. Silken takes her audience on her journey to live well, a journey that brought her to the Olympic playing field, drove her to start her own charity focussed on healthy active kids, and has fuelled her lifelong commitment to mental, spiritual and physical health. Silken inspires her audience to explore their own potential and have the courage to dream big, challenge their limiting beliefs and charter their own course to a life well lived.
Think Well – Mastering the art of thinking well is critical to an Olympic athlete’s career. In sport and in life, it means overcoming fears, challenging doubts and limiting beliefs, playing a different tape inside your head. Thinking well is about building an awareness of the power of our minds; understanding that where we direct our mental focus has an enormous impact on what we manifest.
Act Well - Understanding and owning our personal power can positively influence our environments; in our work, in our families, in our communities. It is about sharing our gifts with each other, our power to encourage and support, our wisdom and experience. Act well is about interacting with the world in a way that adds value.
Be Well – means gaining an awareness of the important place physical health has in our lives; it is truly a foundational aspect to living life fully. When asked what they value people talk about their families, their work and their health. We invest very little in our health and yet without it the other two core values are greatly diminished. Silken inspires her audience that physical wellness is attainable and adds significantly to the quality of our lives.
